Mat Hoffman and the Lars Ligament Story, Illustrated by Taj Mihelich

During a stunt in 1999, American BMX rider Mat Hoffman took a heavy fall into the crowd that tore his ACL and other crucial ligaments in his leg. Following the injury, Hoffman underwent an experimental, synthetic ACL replacement surgery with no anesthesia by a French doctor in Canada. “Mat Hoffman and the Lars Ligament Story” is a short video project narrated by Hoffman that documents the traumatizing experience, from exchanging a suitcase of $10,000 USD cash to the doctor in a shady motel, to his memory of being completely wide awake as the doctor drilled through six inches of his bone. The whole sketchy experience is told with fun sound effects and animation illustrations courtesy of Taj Mihelich.